A's pound three homers, beat Tigers 6-3

Oakland belts 3 homers in road victory to grab lead in best-of-5 series

Updated 3:44 pm, Thursday, June 26, 2014

A's catcher Stephen Vogt slides home safely after Coco Crisp's flyball to left allowed him to tag up in the fourth inning.

A's catcher Stephen Vogt slides home safely after Coco Crisp's flyball to left allowed him to tag up in the fourth inning.

Photo: Leon Halip, Getty Images

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Josh Reddick is congratulated in the dugout after his fourth-inning home run gave the A's a 2-0 lead.

Josh Reddick is congratulated in the dugout after his fourth-inning home run gave the A's a 2-0 lead.

Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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Closer Grant Balfour reacts after retiring Omar Infante on a flyball to right field to complete the A's victory over the Tigers in Game 3 of the ALDS in Detroit.

Closer Grant Balfour reacts after retiring Omar Infante on a flyball to right field to complete the A's victory over the Tigers in Game 3 of the ALDS in Detroit.

Photo: Lon Horwedel, Associated Press

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Oakland Athletics designated hitter Seth Smith, background, and Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez watch Smith's solo home run during the fifth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) less

Oakland Athletics designated hitter Seth Smith, background, and Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez watch Smith's solo home run during the fifth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball ... more

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press

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Oakland Athletics' Brandon Moss connects for a solo home run during the fifth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Oakland Athletics' Brandon Moss connects for a solo home run during the fifth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press

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Home plate umpire Gary Darling, second from right, steps between Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez, left, and Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Grant Balfour (50) during the ninth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) less

Oakland Athletics' Josh Reddick congratulates teammate Seth Smith on his 2-run homer during fifth-inning action. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Detroit Tigers, 6-3, during Game 3 of the American League Division Series playoffs at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, October 7, 2013. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT) less

Oakland Athletics' Josh Reddick congratulates teammate Seth Smith on his 2-run homer during fifth-inning action. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Detroit Tigers, 6-3, during Game 3 of the American League ... more

Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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Both benches empty, as Detroit Tigers batter Victor Martinez and Oakland Athletics closing pitcher Grant Balfour argue during the 9th inning. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Detroit Tigers, 6-3, during Game 3 of the American League Division Series playoffs at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, October 7, 2013. (Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press/MCT) less

Both benches empty, as Detroit Tigers batter Victor Martinez and Oakland Athletics closing pitcher Grant Balfour argue during the 9th inning. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Detroit Tigers, 6-3, during Game ... more

Photo: Mandi Wright, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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The Oakland Athletics celebrate their 6-3 win over the Detroit Tigers after Game 3 of an American League baseball division series in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The Oakland Athletics celebrate their 6-3 win over the Detroit Tigers after Game 3 of an American League baseball division series in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press

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Oakland Athletics pitcher Grant Balfour celebrates after the last out against the Detroit Tigers during ninth-inning action. The Athletics defeated the Tigers, 6-3, during Game 3 of the American League Division Series playoffs at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, October 7, 2013. (Julian H. Gonzalez/Detroit Free Press/MCT) less

Oakland Athletics pitcher Grant Balfour celebrates after the last out against the Detroit Tigers during ninth-inning action. The Athletics defeated the Tigers, 6-3, during Game 3 of the American League Division ... more

Photo: Julian H. Gonzalez, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 07: Sean Doolittle #62 of the Oakland Athletics pitches in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers during Game Three of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on October 7, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) less

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 07: Sean Doolittle #62 of the Oakland Athletics pitches in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers during Game Three of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on ... more

Photo: Leon Halip, Getty Images

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Home plate umpire Gary Darling, center, stands between Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez, left, and Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Grant Balfour during the ninth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) less

Home plate umpire Gary Darling, center, stands between Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez, left, and Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Grant Balfour during the ninth inning of Game 3 of an American ... more

Photo: Paul Sancya, Associated Press

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Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Dan Otero throws during the sixth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) less

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Dan Otero throws during the sixth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Lon ... more

Photo: Lon Horwedel, Associated Press

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Oakland Athletics center fielder Coco Crisp scores during the third inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) less

Oakland Athletics center fielder Coco Crisp scores during the third inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Lon ... more

Photo: Lon Horwedel, Associated Press

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Oakland Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick connects for a solo home run during the fourth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) less

Oakland Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick connects for a solo home run during the fourth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, ... more

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jarrod Parker throws during the third inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) less

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jarrod Parker throws during the third inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP ... more

Photo: Lon Horwedel, Associated Press

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A's pound three homers, beat Tigers 6-3

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DETROIT --

After two taut pitchers' duels to start the series, the A's got back to Comerica Park and resumed their homer-clubbing ways.

Oakland smacked three homers on Monday to down Detroit 6-3 and take a two games to one lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series. With a win Tuesday, the A's would advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2006.

"It's good, but we've got to play like we're down 2-0, not get overconfident or anything like that," A's starter Jarrod Parker said. "That's not who we are."

"When you have a chance to take it in Game 4, you want to do that," catcher Stephen Vogt said. "When you have the advantage, you want to take it and win."

Last year, the A's also scored two wins in the ALDS, but the Tigers took the series in five games.

"We're a better team than we were last year," Oakland right fielder Josh Reddick said. "We've got the potential to do something great here, and we know that."

Reddick, Brandon Moss and Seth Smith went deep for the A's off Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez, who won the AL ERA title and had given up only nine homers all season - never more than one in a game.

"I think guys have a pretty good feeling hitting here, maybe," A's third baseman Josh Donaldson said. "It's a pretty big ballpark, but we just put some good at-bats together."

The A's have scored 40 runs in five games at Detroit this season, and Moss has hit five homers in those contests.

"I'm pretty much trying to hit a home run anytime," Moss said. "I don't think anyone can deny that."

Detroit ended a 20-inning scoreless streak with three runs in the fourth off Parker to erase a 3-0 deficit, but the A's responded with three more of their own in the fifth. Parker never has lost when given support of three runs or more, going 20-0 in the regular season and now 1-0 in the postseason.

The A's got the leadoff man on in each of the first three innings and finally broke through in the last of those. Coco Crisp singled and stole second, and Donaldson walked. Yoenis Céspedes then smacked a ball off Miguel Cabrera's glove at third. The error by the reigning MVP allowed the A's to take a 1-0 lead.

Reddick, 1-for-8 in the series when he stepped to the plate in the fourth and 0-for-10 lifetime against Sanchez, drilled a solo shot to right, his second career postseason homer. Vogt, Saturday night's walk-off hero, tripled to right center, and a shallow flyball sent him home as Jhonny Peralta - making his first-ever start in left field - made a weak throw to the plate.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers scored for the first time since the first inning of the series. Torii Hunter and Prince Fielder singled and Victor Martinez - a lifetime .340 hitter vs. Oakland - doubled down the right-field line, sending in Hunter. Peralta then dumped a single to left, scoring Fielder and Martinez to tie the game.

That didn't deter the A's a whit. Moss clobbered a homer to right on a 2-2 pitch from Sanchez, Céspedes singled to left, and Smith homered to left center. It was something of a surprise that Detroit manager Jim Leyland left Sanchez in to face Smith, given that Sanchez had thrown 96 pitches and Smith entered the game 7-for-19 with three homers and two walks in his career against Sanchez.

"That's our logic with our team: We're going to strike out and we're going to hit the long ball," Reddick said.

Parker exited after five innings, having gotten Hunter to ground into a double play to end the fifth. Dan Otero, who came in for the sixth, gave up a base hit to Fielder but got Martinez to bounce into a double play. Otero also worked a scoreless seventh and has thrown 3 1/3 scoreless innings in the series.

Sean Doolittle pitched the eighth and walked Hunter but got Cabrera to pop up and Fielder to line out to short.

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